Cost of Obtaining a General Trading License in Dubai

What is a Trade License in Dubai?

Dubai is one of the most desirable business hubs for startups, entrepreneurs, and big enterprises planning to open a branch office in the Middle East. But, to carry out a business in Dubai, companies need a legal trade license from the DED, the Department of Economic Development. And to obtain the trade license, you will have to bear a cost and need to go through various rules, regulations, and procedures.

Here in this blog, we will try to find out a few more necessary information and fees for people looking to obtain a trade license in Dubai.

Steps to Follow to Obtain Your License

Eight simple steps and you finally receive your trade license. Here they are:

• Choose a proper trade name and legal structure for your company.
• Choose your business activities to add to your business license (a maximum of 10 per license).
• Fill in the application for primary approval.
• Get external approvals if essential, depending on the type of your business activity.
• Gather all the necessary documents like the Memorandum of Association (MOA) and all the accepted documents from the concerned government authorities.
• Choose a business location and get a tenancy contract confirmed by Ejari. Then, submit an application to the DED for final approval of the license.
• Make your necessary payment for the license, along with an issuance fee to obtain the license.

To obtain a valid trading license from a free zone or offshore, the company should submit the original documents to the Commercial Registry at the Trade license and Commercial Registration Department.

Documents to Submit for UAE General Trading License

• A license application signed by the company managers or their legal representatives
• A Memorandum of Association
• Attested company name approval letter from DED
• Passport copy of the management partners

The Process of License Issuance

The Commercial Registry Authority verifies all documents and validates them one by one. After that, the company name is included in the Commercial Registry. The Department of Economic Development (DED) then forwards the documents to the Federal Ministry of Economic publication. After your documents are published, including the MOA and the application entry of the company name, the ministry issues its authority or approval letter. Once the licensing processes are completed, the DED issues the original trade license and commercial registration certificates.

Advantages of a General Trading License in Dubai

Below listed you will find advantages of obtaining a general trade license in Dubai:

• Tax-free jurisdiction
• Local and international trading provision
• Auditing is not mandatory
• Hassle-free legal process
• A wide range of banking facilities
• Easy access to visas for employees
• No currency restrictions
• No requirement of paid-up capital
• 100% repatriation of capital and profits
• Low import duty

General Trading License Cost in Dubai

Trade license costs may vary from business to business. A Dubai general trading license cost/fee can be around AED 28,500 to AED 30,000, depending upon several factors: the office or warehouse size, business activity, location of your business, company sponsor, multiple partners, and business structure, etc. If you fail to renew your license on time, you will invite financial penalties or even the sternest actions that may affect your operations as a whole. Therefore, it is advisable that you hire a professional business setup consultant to obtain a trade license in Dubai without any worries and inconvenience.